Tripoli Offensive

The Tripoli Offensive occurred from 15 to 23 January 1943 when the British Eighth Army launched an offensive against Axis forces in western Libya during World War II. Following the Second Battle of El Alamein, the British Eighth Army was able to advance into Libya, outflanking Erwin Rommel at El Agheila in November-December 1942 and again at Buerat frm 26 December 1942 to 16 January 1943. The British forces used Crusader tanks to push the German forces back, and the short range of the Crusader tanks' guns forced them to launch massive attack waves against German positions. The British suffered significant losses in these charges, but they overwhelmed the German tanks on 15 January. On 18 January, the British tanks braved Flak 88 fire and secured a ridge defended by German tanks and anti-tank weapons, and the British forces entered Tripoli on 23 January 1943, completing the liberation of Libya from the Axis Powers.